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Gabriela Castellanos criticized Xiomara Castro’s attempt to divert attention by attacking other suspects instead of facing the evidence presented.
The director of the National Anti-Corruption Council (CNA), Gabriela Castellanos, has formally requested the resignation of President Iris Xiomara Castro Sarmiento following the revelation of a video in which her brother-in-law, former deputy Carlos Zelaya, appears negotiating 13 million lempiras for the Libre campaign in 2013.
The petition is based on serious accusations of drug trafficking that have arisen against the president’s family, who have been responsible for structuring the State in various ministries.
“This request is based on the serious accusations of drug trafficking that have been brought against the family, whom you have appointed to structure the State in the different ministries, clearly collapsed by organized crime,” the document states.
The request for resignation was presented on Wednesday in an open letter addressed to the president, in which Castellanos argues that serious accusations of links to organized crime have collapsed the performance of government institutions.
The document highlights that these charges not only violate the fundamental ethical principles of public service, but have also put the integrity of the rule of law in Honduras at risk.
The letter also criticizes the president’s lack of action to address the allegations and her apparent attempt to divert attention by attacking other suspects rather than addressing the evidence presented.
Castellanos stresses that this type of response is not enough to restore confidence in the government and that Castro’s permanence in power continues to “undermine the credibility of the rule of law and disturb the peace and security of the population.”
The petition concludes by making an urgent call for President Castro to resign from office, in order to “restore political integrity and morality to the public service of Honduras.”
Castellanos expressed his hope that this request will be considered with the seriousness it deserves, for the good of the country and its citizens.
To date, there has been no official response from the presidency regarding this request.
Government condemned negotiations between drug traffickers and politicians
In a national broadcast, President Xiomara Castro addressed the nation to condemn the negotiations between drug traffickers and politicians, in reference to the video that involves her brother-in-law and former Secretary of the National Congress, Carlos Zelaya, meeting with drug lords to confirm the delivery of 13 million lempiras.
In the conversation, the drug traffickers indicated how much money each one would contribute to be delivered to members of Libre, “half for the commander” said Carlos Zelaya.